Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal: The Political Economy of Saving the Planet

by Noam Chomsky, Robert Pollin, C.J. Polychroniou Narrated by James Patrick Cronin

Overview

An engaging conversation with our most respected public intellectual around how a global Green New Deal has the potential to save humanity and the planet



The environmental crisis under way is unique in human history. It is a true existential crisis. Those alive today will decide the fate of humanity. Meanwhile, the leaders of the most powerful state in human history are dedicating themselves with passion to destroying the prospects for organized human life. At the same time, there is a solution at hand, which is the Green New Deal. Putting meat on the bones of the Green New Deal starts with a single simple idea: we have to absolutely stop burning fossil fuels to produce energy within the next thirty years at most; and we have to do this in a way that also supports rising living standards and expanding opportunities for working people and the poor throughout the world. This version of a Green New Deal program is, in fact, entirely realistic in terms of its purely economic and technical features. The real question is whether it is politically feasible. Chomsky and Pollin examine how we can build the political force to make a global Green New Deal a reality.

Editorial Reviews

DECEMBER 2020 - AudioFile

This audiobook is structured around questions raised by discussion points from political scientist C.J. Polychroniou. James Patrick Cronin narrates each question, identifies which author, Pollin or Chomsky, is answering, and then reads the response. They explore the causes of climate change, how to achieve zero emissions by 2050, and how a global Green New Deal might be structured. Cronin presents Pollin’s responses on the economics of climate change in an analytical tone. But when Chomsky notes that President Trump requested that Ireland build a wall against a rising sea level that affects his property even as he persists as a denier of climate change, Cronin allows a bit of indignation to show through. Overall though, he maintains an even pace and an earnest demeanor throughout. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

From the Publisher

This book is a survival manual for civilization. I want everyone—yes, every person on the planet—to learn its message and to face the challenge it poses: ‘What am I doing to help bring about a global Green New Deal in the early years of this decade?’ For Americans, the first steps are clear: consign all climate deniers to permanent political oblivion and force all other policymakers to match fine words with deeds—i.e. commit to the Pollin–Chomsky global program for climate stabilization, a massive expansion of good jobs, and just transition.”
—Daniel Ellsberg, author of The Doomsday Machine

“The project that is the Green New Deal is enriched by the insights of two great minds: those of Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin. Both understand that the GND will fail if it does not protect the jobs and livelihoods of the working class. They explain how a transformation needed to restore the ecosystem can, and will transform the organisations and lives of working people worldwide—for the better.”
—Ann Pettifor, author of The Case for The Green New Deal

“This little book contains a big idea: climate stabilisation that avoids the collapse of organised social life can be achieved, along with more decent jobs, improved living standards and reduced poverty everywhere in the world. Two eminent thinkers present a convincing case for a realistic, feasible Global Green New Deal.”
—Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

“In this compelling read, linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky and progressive economist Robert Pollin present a convincing case for a realistic, feasible Global Green New Deal.”
—Dazed

“[Chomsky and Pollin] argue it is possible to tackle climate collapse over the next 30 years … A capitalist system that fails to respond does not deserve to survive.”
—Irish Times

“Emphasises the crisis our planet faces but also says ‘there is a solution at hand.’”
—Irish Examiner

“Brisk and lucid.”
—John Freeman, Lit Hub (“Most Anticipated Books of 2020”)

“A thought-provoking and succinct manifesto.”
—Russell Whitehouse, International Policy Digest

DECEMBER 2020 - AudioFile

This audiobook is structured around questions raised by discussion points from political scientist C.J. Polychroniou. James Patrick Cronin narrates each question, identifies which author, Pollin or Chomsky, is answering, and then reads the response. They explore the causes of climate change, how to achieve zero emissions by 2050, and how a global Green New Deal might be structured. Cronin presents Pollin’s responses on the economics of climate change in an analytical tone. But when Chomsky notes that President Trump requested that Ireland build a wall against a rising sea level that affects his property even as he persists as a denier of climate change, Cronin allows a bit of indignation to show through. Overall though, he maintains an even pace and an earnest demeanor throughout. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2020-06-13
A specific plan to address humanity’s “greatest existential crisis ever.”

With the global mean temperature steadily rising and opposition based on ideology over evidence, a steady stream of writing and conferences proposes to fix matters. Although some national leaders support action, they are not responding to pressure from any major movement because none exists—so, with rare exceptions, the end result has been mere rhetoric. Although it has yet to gather mass support, one political movement proposes to eliminate fossil fuels along with the supportive driving forces of climate change, including deforestation, industrial agriculture, and food and land waste. Known as the Global Green New Deal, its goal is to eliminate greenhouse emissions by 2050 and invest massively to raise energy efficiency and expand clean energy sources. As the name “new deal” implies, it aims to accomplish this without joblessness and economic insecurity and to raise living standards for working people and the poor throughout the world. The concise narrative is laid out as an interview in which Chomsky and Pollin alternatively respond to questions. Pollin, a professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts and co-founder of its Political Economic Research Institute, concentrates on the evidence for climate change and details of the legislation and finances required for the GGND, which seem surprisingly attainable despite the political difficulties he admits are considerable. Chomsky, longtime activist and emeritus professor of linguistics at MIT, concentrates a fierce attack on the culprit: a heartless, obsessively profit-oriented capitalist system that has prevailed for more than four decades. The GGND, which requires all governments to cooperate to eliminate the powerful fossil fuel industry while simultaneously eradicating poverty, has attracted sneers aplenty. Nonetheless, its architects are convincing about the necessity of such a program. What is lacking is a thoughtful discussion by influential—rather than merely intelligent—people on preventing catastrophe.

A serious plan that needs refinement more than invective.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176479560
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	09/22/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged

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